Grand Rapids Press File PhotoChris Minard, right, has not played yet this season for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

GRAND RAPIDS — Chris Minard hasn’t exactly enjoyed watching his Grand Rapids Griffins teammates play at Van Andel Arena this season as he continues to recover from lingering concussion symptoms.

It’s even more painful during away games, though.

“It’s not fun, but it’s worse when they go on the road and you’ve got to skate here by yourself,” Minard said. “It’s tough when they go on the road and you don’t really feel part of the team. You just kind of sit around every day. It’s boring and frustrating.”

Minard, who hasn’t played at all this season, suffered a concussion during an Oct. 30, 2009 game with the Springfield Falcons. He missed more than 30 games, but returned near the all-star break and finished that year with 22 goals.

His scoring skills helped prompt the parent club Detroit Red Wings to sign him to a two-year contract before the 2010-11 season, when he appeared in all but one game with the Griffins.

But as he trained during the offseason for this year, issues from that concussion resurfaced.

“I guess there were some symptoms last year that I just played through,” Minard said. “In the summertime, it came back on pretty good, and it just got worse and worse as the workouts got harder.”

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His activity was limited through the first two months of the season, and he only returned to practice Dec. 19. There is no timetable for his return, and he still experiences some minor concussion-related symptoms, but he remains optimistic that he will be able to play this season.

“I feel good out there. It’s good to be skating with the guys again,” Minard said. “It’s been a frustrating time not playing, but there’s nothing really anybody can do about it. I have to wait for everything to go away. I’m seeing the right people now, the right doctors, so it’s getting closer, I think.”

As much as Grand Rapids coach Curt Fraser would love to have him back in the lineup, the team will be cautious to ensure he’s fully healthy.

“Chris has been working very hard to try and get back, feeling good first, then getting back into the lineup,” Fraser said. “He looks close now, but that’s up to the doctors to make that decision.”

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Minard isn’t sure if the concussion affected his play last year — he had 18 goals, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2002-03, and didn’t appear in any NHL games for the first time in four years — but he doesn’t want to use the lingering injury as justification for what he considers a down season.

“I had a bad year, but I don’t want to make excuses,” Minard said. “Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. I don’t know.”

Minard’s return would provide another boost for the Griffins, who recently got forwards Gustav Nyquist and Chris Conner back from the Red Wings. Defenseman Travis Ehrhardt also is getting closer to returning after injuring his shoulder in the third game of the season.

“It’s very important for our team that we start getting these guys back,” Fraser said. “With Detroit being hurt a lot, our team has been playing well, but what a bonus it would be to get everybody back. Hopefully, it happens here soon.”

Minard would have no problem returning sooner rather than later.

“My goal is to get back as soon as possible, contribute and help this team get back in the playoffs,” he said.